Origin
Queen Creek, AZ
Late night in Queen Creek on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queen Creek, AZ to Maricopa, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queen Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 35.3-mile drive from Queen Creek, AZ, to Maricopa, AZ, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 52 minutes. Expect a fuel cost around $7 for this trip, which stays within the Desert Southwest region. The route primarily utilizes local roads like North Maricopa Road and East/West Queen Creek Road, offering a turn-heavy local feel rather than an interstate experience. Given its brevity, this drive is perfect for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| East Queen Creek Road | 11 mi | 17m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| East Ocotillo Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Hawes Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Maricopa Road
— 11.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queen Creek, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
1
Start on East Ocotillo Road
380 ft
·
35 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
2
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ocotillo Road
3
Turn right onto South Hawes Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hawes Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto East Queen Creek Road
11 mi
·
17 min
·
East Queen Creek Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on West Queen Creek Road
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Maricopa Road
7
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Queen Creek, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 2.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Ocotillo Road
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Hawes Road
Turn right onto South Hawes Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
East Queen Creek Road
Turn left onto East Queen Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.03 one way
$14.06 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Maricopa, AZ
Late night in Maricopa on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only a 6% share of highway driving. You'll navigate primarily along North Maricopa Road, East Queen Creek Road, and West Queen Creek Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.8 miles on North Maricopa Road. Expect frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the local landscape as you transition between these main arteries, rather than long, high-speed highway segments.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.8 mi on North Maricopa Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Ocotillo Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Queen Creek, AZ to Maricopa, AZ is easy. At 52m with 6% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.2 miles (South Hawes Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (East Queen Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.8 miles on North Maricopa Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.2 miles (South Hawes Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (East Queen Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maricopa, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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